US3181120A - Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters - Google Patents

Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters Download PDF

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Publication number
US3181120A
US3181120A US101534A US10153461A US3181120A US 3181120 A US3181120 A US 3181120A US 101534 A US101534 A US 101534A US 10153461 A US10153461 A US 10153461A US 3181120 A US3181120 A US 3181120A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
potential
character
field
image
pattern
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US101534A
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English (en)
Inventor
Arthur M Lieberman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TDK Micronas GmbH
International Telephone and Telegraph Corp
Original Assignee
Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL276982D priority Critical patent/NL276982A/xx
Application filed by Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH filed Critical Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
Priority to US101534A priority patent/US3181120A/en
Priority to DEI21536A priority patent/DE1161064B/de
Priority to FR893449A priority patent/FR1319168A/fr
Priority to BE616078A priority patent/BE616078A/fr
Priority to GB13358/62A priority patent/GB995871A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3181120A publication Critical patent/US3181120A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V10/00—Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding
    • G06V10/10—Image acquisition
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V30/00—Character recognition; Recognising digital ink; Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
    • G06V30/10—Character recognition
    • G06V30/14—Image acquisition
    • G06V30/144—Image acquisition using a slot moved over the image; using discrete sensing elements at predetermined points; using automatic curve following means

Definitions

  • INVEN TOR ART/ ⁇ 0e M. L/E'BEPMAN //z(- A ⁇ fl- 4.
  • This invention relates in general to a device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters and in particular to a device, for use in a characterrecognition system, in which the characters to be recognized are simulated or synthesized in a potential filed and the resulting field variations are evaluated to determine the geometry of the character. Its principal object is to provide a new and simplified recognition system.
  • a potential field is created which is composed of lines of constant potential generally corresponding to the contours of the geometric configuration to be determined.
  • the potential gradients of this field are determined and the geometry of the configuration evaluated therefrom.
  • the only potential field created is that field which defines the geometric configuration to be studied or evaluated. (It is to be noted that the term potential gradients used here and later is not meant to be relegated to only precise partial derivatives; it includes spatial potential changes and differences which are also indicative of the field slope and hence the shape of the field margins.)
  • One example of such a prior-art device is the electric tank wherein the exterior of the tank is at ground potential and a potential field is created only when an electrode having a potential thereon is placed in the interior of the tank.
  • a feature related to the last mentioned object resides in the arrangement wherein a potential field is first created in a plate of photo-conductive material, which field is then altered by a light image of a character on a moving record being focused on the plate and being moved thereacross.
  • FIGS. 1 to 6 V wherein:
  • FIG. 1 shows the general layout of the character recogcal nition system of the invention with a printed character being imaged on a plate of photo-conductive material;
  • FIG. 1a shows the arrangement of one of the probes of the photo-conductive material
  • FIG. 2 shows an example of lines of constant potential on the photo-conductive plate when a light image of a character is focused thereon
  • FIGS. 3 to 6 show the relationship existing between the potentials appearing on the probes of each set when .the lines of constant potential have various geometric configurations.
  • a potential field is first created in the photoconductive plate.
  • the conductivity of the area under the light is increased and the original potential field is distorted in accordance with the geometric shape of the light image.
  • the distortion is essentially in accordance with the constant potential theory exemplified by the noted electric tank.
  • the resulting distorted potential field is measured at predetermined points and evaluated to determine the geometric shape of the light image.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings a lens system is shown wherein light from source LS is reflected from a moving record medium 5 and focused on the surface of the photo-conductive plate through lens 4.
  • the record medium 5 may be any record containing a sequence of printed or written characters to be recognized.
  • the record is moved in the direction indicated by arrow f and the image of the characters thereon are successively moved across the surface of photo-conductive plate 1 in the direction indicated by arrow f
  • the photo-conductive plate 1 may be any photo-con- V ductive material which changes its conductivity when light impinges thereon.
  • a pair of conductors 2 and 3 are secured to one set of opposite edges of the plate 1 and a voltage from source BS is impressed thereacross. This creates a field of constant potential whose potential lines are relatively parallel and extend transversely of plate 1 between conductors 2 and 3. When light is projected onto plate 1, the conductivity of this material is increased at those areas where light strikes the plate.
  • the extreme right probe When three probes are aligned in the right section of the plate and parallel with the direction of movement of the image, the extreme right probe will have a potential thereon smaller than the other two probes when the image is inthe left section of the plate. However, when the image passes the three probes, the relative potential values will be reversed with the left probe then having the least potential.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the above potential relationships existing between probes A A and A when the image shape element is a straight line and when the center of the shape element is positioned on the main probe. At that position, the potentials a and a are equal and smaller than potential a 7
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the relationship existing between the potentials on probes A A and A when the image shape element is curved to the left and when the center of the shape element is positioned on probe A At that position, the potential a is the greatest while potential a is less than potential a and both are smaller than potential a FIG.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship existing between the potentials in probes A A and A when the image shape element is curved to the right and when the center of the shape element is positioned on probe A At that position, potential is the greatest while potential a is less than potential a and both are smallerthan potential a
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship existing between the potentials on probes A A and A when the image shape element is a complete circle and when the right portion of a the shape element is positioned on probe A Atthat position, potentials a and a are equal and greater than potential a T
  • E characteristic when the straight-line shapeelements have their potential field measured and evaluated
  • the resulting evaluation will be termed an E characteristic.
  • the evaluation'of the shape elementof FIG. 4 will be termed an L characteristic
  • the evaluation of the shape element of FIG. 5 will be termed an R characteristic
  • the evaluation of the shape element of FIG. 6 will be termed a C characteristic.
  • Each set functions in themanner above described in detecting the characteristic of its associated portion of the image It has been chosen to position the A set of probes to measure the potential field in the vicinity of the upper portion of the numerical image, to position the B set of probes in the vicinity of themiddle portion;
  • the selected material may have any desired shape, whether uniform or not and may or may not have uniform resistive characteristics. 'The detection of the potentials may be accomplished from the exterior or interior of the materials or from the outer edges or within the confines thereofi' Also, the mark,
  • This circuit may be arranged so that the potential on each probe of any set for creating a constant potential field across a surface of said material, means for altering the pattern of constancy of said potential field wherein said pattern is altered in accordance with and indicative of a character to be recognized, means fordetecting alterations of potential gradients in said altered pattern of constancy of said potential field, and-means coupled to said detecting means for evaluating said potential gradients to identify said character.
  • a character recognition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for altering the said pattern of constancy of said potential field in accordance with a pattern indicative of a character-to be recognized includes means for impressing a single representation of the shape of said character, from a single source ,of characters, on
  • a character-recognition system comprising in combination a single display-target of resistive material, means for creating a constant potential field across a surface of said material, means for continuously altering the pattern of constancy of said potential field, said pattern alterations at any time being in accordance with and indicative of a character to be recognized, means for detecting alterations of potential gradients in said altered pattern of constancy of said potential field, and means coupled to said detecting means for evaluating said potential gradients at a predetermined time to identify said character.
  • a character recognition system comprising in combination a body of resistive material, means for creating a potential field in said material, means for altering said potential field in accordance with the shape of a character to be recognized, a plurality of potential probes attached at predetermined points to said body for detecting potential gradients in said altered field, and means for evaluating said gradients to identify the said character.
  • a character recognition system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the said means for evaluating includes means for evaluating predetermined of said potential gradients at the time a predetermined one of said potential probes detects a potential of a predetermined amplitude.
  • a character recognition system comprising a body of photo-conductive material, means for creating a potential field in said material, light image means for altering said potential field in accordance with a pattern indicative of a character to be recognized, means for detecting potential gradients in said altered field, and means coupled to said detecting means for evaluating said graclients to identify the said character.
  • a character recognition system comprising means for creating a constant potential field, means for distorting the pattern of constancy of said potential field by the introduction of the character to be recognized as a substantially uniform conductance therein, means for detecting potential gradients in the distorted pattern of constancy of said field, and means for evaluating said detected gradients whereby the character is determined.
  • a character recognition system comprising in combination a single display-target of resistive material; means for creating a constant potential field across a surface of said material; means for introducing in said constant potential field a uniform conductance simulating the shape of the character to be recognized to distort the pattern of constancy of said potential field; probe means for deriving potentials from said distorted pattern of constancy of said potential field; and logic means, coupled to said probe means, for evaluating said derived potentials to identify the character.
  • a character recognition system comprising a single display-target of photo-conductive material; means for creating a constant potential field across a surface of said material; means for light imaging the character to be recognized on said material, to distort the pattern of constancy of said field; probe means for deriving potentials from said distorted pattern of said potential field; and logic means, coupled to said probe means, for evaluating said derived potentials to identify the character.
  • a character recognition system as claimed in claim 14 in which'the light image of the character is swept across the material, and the logic means includes means for evaluating the derived potentials at a predetermined time.
  • a character recognition system comprising a single display-target having a surface containing photo-conductive material; potential means, connected between opposite edges of said material, for inducing a constant potential field across a surface thereof; means for casting a light image of the character to be recognized across said surface; a plurality of potential probes, arranged in distinct tracts, attached to said surface; and logic means, coupled to said probes, for evaluating the potentials derived at said probes at a predetermined time to identify the character.
  • MALCOLM A MORRISON, Primary Examiner. WALTER STOLWEIN, Examiner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Character Input (AREA)
US101534A 1961-04-07 1961-04-07 Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters Expired - Lifetime US3181120A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL276982D NL276982A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png) 1961-04-07
US101534A US3181120A (en) 1961-04-07 1961-04-07 Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters
DEI21536A DE1161064B (de) 1961-04-07 1962-03-31 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur automatischen Zeichenerkennung
FR893449A FR1319168A (fr) 1961-04-07 1962-04-05 Système et appareillage pour l'identification des caractères
BE616078A BE616078A (fr) 1961-04-07 1962-04-06 Dispositif pour l'identification automatique de caractères écrits ou imprimés.
GB13358/62A GB995871A (en) 1961-04-07 1962-04-06 Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US101534A US3181120A (en) 1961-04-07 1961-04-07 Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters

Publications (1)

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US3181120A true US3181120A (en) 1965-04-27

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US101534A Expired - Lifetime US3181120A (en) 1961-04-07 1961-04-07 Device for the automatic recognition of written or printed characters

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US (1) US3181120A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
BE (1) BE616078A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
DE (1) DE1161064B (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
FR (1) FR1319168A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
GB (1) GB995871A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
NL (1) NL276982A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3303468A (en) * 1964-03-02 1967-02-07 Ncr Co Character recognition system employing a sensing device with a photosensitive surface
US3525981A (en) * 1964-07-31 1970-08-25 Hitachi Ltd Method and system for detection of pattern features
US5027419A (en) * 1989-03-31 1991-06-25 Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited Optical images by quadrupole convolution

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2616983A (en) * 1949-01-03 1952-11-04 Rca Corp Apparatus for indicia recognition
US2859427A (en) * 1957-06-11 1958-11-04 Gen Dynamics Corp Image-to-code translation system
US2879405A (en) * 1953-06-29 1959-03-24 Rca Corp Semi-conductor photo-electric devices
US2892380A (en) * 1955-01-18 1959-06-30 Foerderung Forschung Gmbh Arrangement for amplifying the light intensity of an optically projected image
US2896507A (en) * 1952-04-16 1959-07-28 Foerderung Forschung Gmbh Arrangement for amplifying the light intensity of an optically projected image
US2939632A (en) * 1955-02-04 1960-06-07 Ibm Record reader
US3016518A (en) * 1955-02-14 1962-01-09 Nat Res Dev System for analysing the spatial distribution of a function

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL226946A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png) * 1957-04-17 1900-01-01

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2616983A (en) * 1949-01-03 1952-11-04 Rca Corp Apparatus for indicia recognition
US2896507A (en) * 1952-04-16 1959-07-28 Foerderung Forschung Gmbh Arrangement for amplifying the light intensity of an optically projected image
US2879405A (en) * 1953-06-29 1959-03-24 Rca Corp Semi-conductor photo-electric devices
US2892380A (en) * 1955-01-18 1959-06-30 Foerderung Forschung Gmbh Arrangement for amplifying the light intensity of an optically projected image
US2939632A (en) * 1955-02-04 1960-06-07 Ibm Record reader
US3016518A (en) * 1955-02-14 1962-01-09 Nat Res Dev System for analysing the spatial distribution of a function
US2859427A (en) * 1957-06-11 1958-11-04 Gen Dynamics Corp Image-to-code translation system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3303468A (en) * 1964-03-02 1967-02-07 Ncr Co Character recognition system employing a sensing device with a photosensitive surface
US3525981A (en) * 1964-07-31 1970-08-25 Hitachi Ltd Method and system for detection of pattern features
US5027419A (en) * 1989-03-31 1991-06-25 Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited Optical images by quadrupole convolution

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB995871A (en) 1965-06-23
DE1161064B (de) 1964-01-09
FR1319168A (fr) 1963-02-22
NL276982A (US07935154-20110503-C00006.png)
BE616078A (fr) 1962-10-08

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